Improvement in treadles



H. REESE.

TREADLE.

Patented Feb. 1, 1:87 6.

N-PETERS, PHOTO-LITfIOGR APHEE WASHINGTON. D. C.

HENRY REESE, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

IMPROVEMENT IN TREADLES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 173,059, dated February1, 1876; application filed December 2'7, 1875.

exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawing, forming a part of this'specification, in which- Figure 1 is aplan View of the treadle, Fig. 2, a side "iew of the same;Fig. 3, an endView; Fig. 4, a sectional detail of the independent treadle, with itsspring and block; Fig. 5, a detail of the bar 0. Figs. 6 and 7 are,respectively, a plan and side view of a modification of the invention.

The object of this invention is to lessen the fatigueofoperatingsewing-machinesandother devices runby treadle-power, by meansof apeculiar construction of treadle, which permits the movement of thelatter to be made without bending the ankles, and enables the operatorto run the machine with a very light expenditure of muscular power. Thisresult I accomplish by-the peculiar construction of two independenttreadles, hinged or pivoted upon opposite sides of the fulcrum of themain treadle, and held in proper horizontal position by means of springsarranged adjustably, as hereinafter more fully described.

,In the drawing, A A represent two independent treadles, pivoted to thesliding blocks E E, and arranged upon opposite sides of the fulcrum-rodGr, upon which the main'treadle H is pivoted. Said treadles A have, attheir point of connection with the block E, springs or, which hold theplane of the independent treadles parallel with the main treadle, thuspreventing them from toppling over, and yet allowing theindependent'treadles to oscillate upon their pivots to compensate forthe motion of the main treadle, by means of which arrangement the bottomof the foot is always kept parallel with the floor, and the tiresomestrain upon the ankle-joint obviated. The

blocks E, upon which the independent treadles are pivoted, are containedin guideways I of the main treadle, and are adjustable to or from thefulcrum to give a greater or less stroke,- an easier or strongermovement, or for the purpose of changing the position of the feet fromthe right foot forward to the left foot forward,

between the same, or for different feet fore-' most. In this case theadjustment is effected by pivoting the independent treadles A upon theguide-bars J J parallel with the fulcrumrod G, and adjusting the saidtreadles laterally upon saidguide-bars. y

. Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is- 1. Thecombination, with the main treadle, having guides, of the independentadjustable treadles A, and pivoted guide-blocks, or their equivalents,as and for the purpose described.

2. The combination, with the sliding block E and the pivoted treadle A,of the spring a, as and for the purpose described.

3. The main treadle, having guideways I, in combination with the .bar 0,having bifurcated ends, the set-screw D, sliding blocks E, and thepivoted independent treadles A, substantially as and for the purpose setforth. HENRY REESE.

Witnesses:

JNo. E. BEEsE, J r., Tnos. L. REESE.

' Ul'vr'r'nnv STATES PATENT OFFICE.

